Methane: 4 Steps to Reduce this Greenhouse Gas

What common gas has an extremely high global warming potential (a rating of how strongly a molecule behaves as a greenhouse gas) and continues to increase each year? Most people would probably answer CO2. But methane is also a greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential (per molecule) that's 25 times higher than carbon dioxide.

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Methane comes from, among other things, the decomposition of organic matter. The biggest man-made contributor however, isn't oil or manufacturing, but rather agriculture. The annual amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the agricultural sector is estimated to be 10 to 12% of total global greenhouse gas emissions and growing, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC).

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Here are several ways you can help reduce the level of methane in our atmosphere:

Support Organic Farming Practices

Organic farmers keep livestock longer instead of replacing old cows with younger calves. Young calves produce no milk but still contribute methane gases. Using a cow into its later years means the total number of cows is fewer leading to less methane in the atmosphere.

Eat Less Red Meat

If the amount of red meat consumed is limited, there will be fewer cows contributing to methane emissions.

Support Farms who use "digesters"

Anaerobic "digesters" utilize microorganisms to decompose cattle manure within a huge container. The resulting biogas can be harvested and used for "free" electricity production, rather than be expelled into the atmosphere.

Become Active in Your Community:

Landfills actively produce methane. Many communities are organizing to help convert this greehouse gas from a pollutant into energy.